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The Norse Goddess Idun The once harsh winter winds transform to gentle breezes. Daffodils, Crocus and Tulips push through the newly thawed earth, barren trees begin to bud, animals are birthing their young, and the spring peepers serenade us with their throaty song. To this harmonious wonder we honor Idun. Idun, “She who renews”, is known as the goddess of spring, eternal youth, health and life.  It is said that she had no birth and is destined to never know death. At times she is known as a fair maiden, soft and delicate, and at others, sturdy and hard working. She is charged with tending the sacred orchard from which…

A Place for Order With the vernal equinox occurring this month I feel a natural sense of balance. I have a need to bring my house, body and spiritual life into order so as to meet the growing energy of the turn of the year. How does order affect our daily life as a person? How does order affect our life as a Pagan?  How does it affect our intent? Putting our life in order. There are bookshelves full of how-to books on creating order out of chaos in our closets, kitchens, and garages; books that show us how to bring order to our finances and health. There are many…

(Oh-star-ah) – Lesser Sabbat – Spring/Vernal Equinox, March 20-21st – when the Sun enters Ares Other Names: Ostre, Oestre, Eostre, Rites of Spring, Eostra’s Day, Lady Day, First Day of Spring, Easter, St. Patrick’s Day, Alban Eiler, Bacchanalia, Mean Earraigh, Pasch, Caisg, Pess Date: Spring Equinox (March 20-22 in Northern Hemisphere) or when the Sun is 1 degree Aries. Symbolism: The beginning of spring, new life and rebirth, the God and Goddess in Their youth, balance, fertility Goddesses: all love, virgin, and fertility Goddesses; Anna Perenna (Roman), Aphrodite (Greek), Astarte (Canaanite, Persia, GrecoRoman), Athena (Greek), Cybele (Greco-Roman), Blodeuwedd, Eostre (Saxon Goddess of Fertility), Flidais (Irish), Gaia (Greek), Hera, Ishtar (Assyro-Babylonian),…

If you’re ever in Russia, you might want to be a careful about going into the woods. Even for a little bit. Not only are there animals and weather conditions you would probably not want to deal with…as well as the chance of getting lost, but there’s also Baba Yaga. Who is Baba Yaga? Well..she’s a witch. A witch of Russian folklore actually. She’s not your typical witch fairy tale witch in that she flies on a broom and performs magic, spells and what else. Instead, Baba Yaga has two things.  A moving, living house of which the feet are chicken legs, and a mortar and pestle which she mainly…

Emerald Aids memory and speech.  A green precious stone said to cure eye disease, protect against evil eye and epilepsy, sharpen memory, and promote eloquence.  In India the emerald was ground  up and taken internally to restore youth and cure intestinal upsets.  Physical and emotional healing.  This is the strongest physical healing gemstone.  Strengthens heart center for abundance, growth, peace, harmony, patience, love, fidelity, honesty.  Lifts depression, insomnia.  Knowingness of the heart, peaceful dreams.  Breathing, heart, lympnodes, blood, thymus, pancreas, blood sugar rebalancer, labor/delivery, eyesight.  Excellent general healer.  Ancient blood detoxificator and antiposion.  Improves all heart functions including love and kindness to others.  Calms mind and relieves eyestrain.  Works on…

Dalai Lama’s Little Book of Wisdom, The by  His Holiness the Dalai Lama © 2010  Hampton Roads ISBN:  978-1-57174-628-3 400 pages Paperback $10.95 (U.S.) Tenzin Gyatso, His Holiness the XIV Dalai Lama, has won the Nobel Peace Prize (1989), but even more importantly he has won the hearts of millions of non-Buddhists world-wide.  Many who have heard him speak, whether in person or through the media, have been struck by his accessibility and his ability to relate to the human condition – which is rare for a religious leader, let alone one who is also a world leader in political matters. This book is composed of teachings and advice gathered,…

The Second American Revolution It began not with the ending of the world but with the end of the American Republic although the aftermath may as well have been the end of the world. It was cheered in some circles and condemned by others, but the condemners were in the minority most of them corrupt politicians. The rest were insanely pacifistic sheeple that would rather live under the boots of tyranny then to fight for their freedom and be masters of their own destiny, complacency was their motto, apathy their creed. At first the people had not realized their freedom had been unceremoniously usurped from teem, they thought that their…

Be Your Own herbal Expert Part 7 herbal medicine is the medicine of the people. It is simple, safe, effective, and free. Our ancestors used – and our neighbors around the world still use – plant medicines for healing and health maintenance. It’s easy. You can do it too, and you don’t need a degree or any special training. Ancient memories arise in you when you begin to use herbal medicine. These lessons are designed to nourish and activate those memories and your inner herbalist so you can be your own herbal expert. In our first session, we learned how to “listen” to the messages of plant’s tastes. In lesson…

Well here is an interesting tidbit of information.  I was reading recently that some people believe that the word Tarot might be derived from the word Torah.  The Torah is the Hebrew Holy book and is the name given to the five books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. The word Torah basically means “Instructions” or “Law”. However, when looking at the Tarot you can clearly see that the images depicted in many of the early decks had a Catholic influence and cultural background and in according to scholars there is no evidence presented to date that shows any form of Jewish practice or influence on the creation…

“Hey Can You Look at This?!” I am contacted periodically by people and asked my opinion on a variety of paranormal “evidence.” While it really sparks my interest and imagination to find a valid photo, recording, or other bit of data that can lend credence to the field, the sad truth is that these incidents are few and far between. I’ve fallen victim to the excitement myself while on an investigation or training exercise and ‘chimped’ about like a fool thinking I caught something when, in fact, it was unwarranted. Nothing is more disheartening than to present “evidence” to the scientific community only to be laughed out of the room.…